Locking mechanism for sliding gate of load containing hopper



July 5, 1955 G. E. DATH LOCKING MECHANISM FOR SLIDING GATE OF LOAD CONTAINING HOPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1953 INVENTOR. Geo/ye 7 flczZ/Z,

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nite States Patent F LGCKING MECHANISM FOR SLIDING GATE OF LOAD CONTAINING HOPPER George E. Bath, Mokena, llL, assignor to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Iilinois Application December 14, 1953, Serial No. 397,814

9 Claims. ((11. 105-305) This invention relates, generally, to discharge outlet structures for load containing hoppers for railway cars and trucks, and it has particular relation to locking means therefor.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for locking a sliding gate in the closed position in a simple, efficient and economical manner; to endwise slidabiy mount a bolt on the operating shaft employed for moving the gate between open and closed position and arranged for the bolt to move into the path of the gate when it is closed to prevent opening movement thereof; to limit the endwise movement of the bolt on the shaft and to maintain it in operative engagement therewith; to provide for inserting a sealing hand through the bolt or a part thereof; to provide for wedging engagement between the bolt and the gate; and to employ, in one instance, a bolt having a rectangular cross-section and in another instance a bolt having a circular cross-section.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention, reference can be had to the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a discharge outlet structure mounted on a hopper and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the discharge outlet structure detached from the hopper and showing the sliding bolt having a rectangular cross-section in locking position;

Figure 5 is a view, in side elevation, of the locking bolt shown in the preceding figures;

Figure 6 is a view, in end elevation, of the locking bolt shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the bolt shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a view showing a corner of the discharge outlet structure in conjunction with a bolt having a circular cross-section; and

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional view taken generally along the line 99 of Figure 8.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character it) designates, generally, a load containing hopper which is adapted for use in connection with railway cars or trucks. The hopper 10 is formed by a vertical inner wall generally 2,7lZ,290 Patented July 5, 1955 11, an inclined outer wall 12, and inclined end walls 13 and 14. These walls define a discharge opening that is surrounded by a discharge outlet structure which is secured thereto by rivets 16 or other suitable means. The discharge outlet structure 15 may be a casting and it may include side walls 17 and 18 and end walls 19 and 20 which overlie, respectively, the hopper walls 11, 12, 13, and 14. Below the side and end walls of the discharge outlet structure 15 is a chute-like discharge section 21 through which the lading flows to suitable con veying equipment as will be understood readily.

The discharge opening at the bottom of the hopper 10 and through the discharge outlet structure 15 is closed by a horizontally slidable gate 24. On the underside of the gate 24 rack teeth 25 are provided which cooperate with pinions 26 that are secured by rivets 27 against end- Wise sliding to a square shaft 28 which extends underneath and transversely of the path of movement of the gate 24. The ends of the square shaft 28 extend through wall extensions 29 and 3d of the side walls 17 and 18, respectively. The ends of the shaft 28 are journaled in bearings 31 and 32 that are carried by the wall extensions 29 and 3%. At the right-hand end of the shaft 23, as shown in Figure 2, there is provided a collar 33 which is held in position by a transverse pin 34. This arrangement prevents endwise movement of the shaft 28 from right to left. At the other end of the shaft 28 there is provided an operating head, shown generally at 35, which includes a sleeve 36 that is telescoped over the end of the square shaft 28 and is secured thereto by a transverse pin 37. This construction prevents endwise sliding of the shaft 28 from left to right. The operating head also includes an integrally formed head portion 38 containing openings 39 for receiving a removable bar (not shown) for rotating the shaft 28 and pinions 26 to move the gate 24 between the open and closed position.

With a view to supporting the gate 24 in the open position, angles 41 and 42 are secured to and extend from the wall extensions 29 and 30. At their outer end, the angles 41 and 42 are supported by angles 43, Figure l, which extend upwardly and their upper ends are secured to the superstructure that is shown, generally, at 44.

In order to lock the gate 24 in the fully closed position, shown in Figure l, and also to lock the shaft 28 against rotation when the gate 24 is closed, a horizontally siidable bolt, shown generally at 47, is provided. The details of construction of the bolt 47 are shown more clearly in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings. It will be noted that the bolt 47 includes a body portion 48 which has a rectangular cross-section. The body portion 43 is arranged to slide in a groove 49 that is formed by walls 5t) and 51 which extend at right angles to each other and preferably are cast integrally with the sleeve 36 of the operating head 35. The body portion 48 of the bolt 47 is arranged to slide through a rectangular opening 52 which is formed in the wall extension 30 when the same is cast. A boss 53 extends around the rectangular opening 52 in order to reinforce the same.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4, one side 54 of the body portion 48 is arranged to engage the end surface 55 of the gate 24. This then prevents any movement of the gate 24 as long as the bolt 47 remains in the position here shown. The side 54 is provided with an inclined surface 56 near the outer end to provide a Wedging action with the end surface 55 of the gate 24 so that, if the gate is not in the fully closed position, the application of force to the bolt 47 along the groove 49 will act to force the gate 24 to the fully closed position where the straight side 54 is in engagement with the end surfaceSS.

The outward movement of the bolt 47 along the groove 49 is limited by an abutment 57 which is. cast integrally with the sleeve 36 and extends across the outer end of the groove 49. The body portion 48 is arranged to slide through a stop member 58 which also is cast integrally with the sleeve 36 and has a rectangular aperture 59 for accommodating the rectangular body portion 48.

Extending outwardly from the outer end of the body portion 48 is an arm 60 which is welded at 61 and 62 to the body portion 48. It will be understood that the arm 60 is welded to the body portion 48 after the latter has been positioned in the groove 49. The abutment 57 and the stop member 58 then prevent removal of the bolt 47, when it is withdrawn from the rectangular open- 'ing 52, whereupon it rotates together with the operating head as the gate 24 is moved between the open and closed position.

In order to seal the bolt 47 in the locking position, the body portion 48 is provided with a transversely extending aperture 63 which registers with apertures 64 extending through the wall 59 and the stop member 58. A sealing band can be inserted through these registering apertures 63 and 64 as will be understood readily.

It will be apparent that the bolt 47 can be moved to the locking position only when the gate 24 is in the fully closed position. The reason for this is that the inner end of the body portion 48 otherwise would bear against the adjacent side of the gate 24 and thus be prevented from being inserted into the locking position. Thus the bolt 47 can be moved to the locking position only when the gate 24 is closed or is nearly closed to an extent sufiicient to permit the wedge-shaped inner end of the body portion 48 to be moved back of the end surface 55. Then a bar or hammer can be applied to the arm and the bolt 47 driven to the fully locked position. In a similar manner a bar or a hammer can be applied to the arm 60 to drive the bolt 47 to the unlatched position.

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, an alternate form of construction is illustrated. As there shown an arcuate groove 65 is formed in the sleeve 36 between walls 66 and 67 which preferably are cast integrally therewith. A boit, shown generally at 68, is slidably mounted in the arcuate groove 65. The bolt 68 includes a body portion 69 which has a circular cross-section and which is arranged to project through a circular opening 70 in the wall extension 30 and boss 53. At the outer end of the groove 65 an abutment 71 closes oif the same and limits the endwise movement of the bolt 68. A stop member '72, cast integrally with the sleeve 76, has a circular opening 73 through which the body portion 69 of the bolt 68 slides.

Extending outwardly from the outer end of the body portion 69 is an arm 74. It carries an outwardly extending flange 75 which has an aperture 76 therein that registers with an aperture 77 in a flange 78 that is cast integrally with the sleeve 36. When the arm '74 is swung to the position shown in Figure 8, a sealing band can be inserted through the registering apertures 76 and 77. In this position of the bolt 68, the body portion 69 is in the path of movement of the gate 24 and thus the same cannot move to the open position until the bolt 63 is withdrawn.

It will be understood that the bolt 47 and the bolt 68 not only prevent the gate 24 from being opened but also that both of them prevent rotation of the shaft 28 as long as they remain in the locking position. Also, neither bolts can be moved to the locking position unless the gate 24 is closed.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and. not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

i. In a discharge outlet structure having side and end walls defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably mounted on said structure for closing said opening and having rack means on the underside, a shaft iournaled on said structure underneath and transversely of the path of movement of said gate and carrying pinion means in engagement with said rack means for moving said gate between open and closed positions, an extension on one of said side walls having an opening above said shaft and at the end of said gate when said gate is in closed position, and a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidable only when said gate is closed through said opening in said extension to a position in the path of opening movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft.

2. In a discharge outlet structure having side and end Walls defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably monted on said structure for closing said opening and he rack means on the underside, a shaft journaled on said structure underneath and transversely of the path of movement of said gate and carrying pinion means in engagement with said rackmeans for moving said gate between open and closed positions, an extension on one of said side walls having an opening above said shaft and at the end of said gate when said gate is in closed position, a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidable only when said gate is closed through said opening in extension to a position in the path of opening movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft, and guide and stop means carried by said shaft cooperating with said bolt to maintain the in operative position thereon.

3. in a discharge outlet structure having side and end walis defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably mounted on said structure for closing said opening and having rack means on the underside, a shaft journaled on said structure underneath and transversely of the path of movement of said gate and carrying pinion means in engagement with said rack means for moving said gate between open and closed positions, an extension on one of said side walls having an opening above said shaft and at the end of said gate when said gate is in closed position, a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidable only when said gate is closed through said opening in said extension to a position in the path of opening movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft, and guide and stop means carried by said shaft and cooperating with said bolt to maintain the same in operative position thereon, said guide means comprising walls forming a groove extending lengthwise of said shaft and said stop means comprising an abutment at the end of said groove away from said extension and an apertured stop member at the other end of said groove through which said bolt is slidable.

4. In a discharge outlet structure having side and end walls defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably mounted on said structure for closing said opening and having rack means on the underside, a shaft journaled on said structure underneath and transversely of thepath of movement of said gate and carrying pinion means in engagement with said rack means for moving said gate between open and closed positions, an extension on one of said side walls having an opening above said shaft and at the end of said gate when said gate is in closed position, a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidable only when said gate is closed through said opening in said extension to a position in the path of opening movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft, guide and stop means carried by said shaft and cooperating with said bolt to maintain the same in operative position thereon, said guide means comprising walls forming a groove extending lengthwise of said shaft and said stop means comprising an abutment at the end of said groove away from said extension and an apertured stop member at the other end of said groove through which said bolt is slidable, and an arm extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said bolt to which force can be applied for moving said bolt and for cooperating with said stop member to limit movement of said bolt toward the locking position.

5. In a discharge outlet structure having side and end walls defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably mounted on said structure for closing said opening and having rack means on the underside, a shaft journaled on said structure underneath and transversely of the path of movement of said gate and carrying pinion means in engagement with said rack means for moving said gate between open and closed positions, an extension on one of said side walls having an opening above said shaft and at the end of said gate when said gate is in closed position, and a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidable only when said gate is closed through said opening said extension to a position in the path of ing movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft, one side of said bolt being eng cable with said end of said gate and inclined to the longitudinal axis of said bolt to provide wedging engagement with said one end of said gate.

6. in a discharge outlet structure having side and end walls defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably mounted on said struc are for closing said opening and having rack means on the underside, a shaft journaled on structure underneath and transversely of the path movement of said gate and carrying pinion means gernent with said rack means for moving said between open and closed positions, an extension of said side walls having an opening above said and at the end of said gate when said gate is in clo d position, a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidably only when said gate is closed through said opening in said extension to a position in the path of opening movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft, and guide and stop means carried by said shaft and cooperating with said bolt to maintain the same in operative position thereon, said uide means comprising walls forming a groove extend-- lengthwise of said shaft and said stop means com ,ng abutment at the end of said groove away from t: d extension and an apertured stop member at the other end of said groove through which said bolt is slidable, said apertured stop member and said bolt having registering transversely extending apertures when said bolt is in locking position for receiving a sealing band.

7. in a discharge outlet structure having side and end walls defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably mounted on said structure for closing said opening and having rack means on the underside, a shaft journaled on said structure underneath and transversely of the path of movement of said gate and carrying pinion means in engagement with said rack means for moving said gate between open and closed positions, an extension on one of said side walls having a rectangular opening above said shaft and at the end of said gate when said gate is in closed position, and a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidable only when said gate is closed through said opening in said extension to a position in the path of opening movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft, and guide and stop means carried by said shaft and cooperating with said bolt to maintain the same in operative position thereon, said bolt having a rectangular cross-section, said guide means comprising walls forming a groove extending lengthwise of said shaft and at right angles to each other, and said stop means comprising an abutment at the end of said groove away from said extension and a rectangularly apertured stop member at the other end of said groove through which said rectangular bolt is slidable.

8. In a discharge outlet structure having side and end walls defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably mounted on said structure for closing said opening and having rack means on the underside, a shaft journaled on said structure underneath and transversely of the path of movement of said gate and carrying pinion means in engagement with said rack means for moving said gate between open and closed positions, an extension on one of said side walls having an opening above said shaft and at the end of said gate-When said gate is in closed position, a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidable only when said gate is closed through said opening in said extension to a position in the path of opening movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft, guide and stop means carried by said shaft and cooperating with said bolt tomaintain the same in operative position thereon, said guide means comprising walls forming a groove extending lengthwise of said shaft and said stop means comprising an abutment at the end of said groove away from said extension and an apertured stop member at the other end of said groove through which said bolt is slidable, an apertured flange extending from said shaft, and an apertured flange extending from said arm with the apertures in said flanges in register when said bolt is in locking position for receiving therethrough a sealing band.

9. In a discharge outlet structure having side and end walls defining an opening, a discharge gate slidably mounted on said structure for closing said opening and having rack means on the underside, a shaft journaled on said structure underneath and transversely of the path of movement of said gate and carrying pinion means in engagement with said rack means for moving said gate between open and closed positions, an extension on one of said side walls having a circular opening above said shaft and at the end of said gate when said gate is in closed position, a bolt endwise slidably mounted on and rotatable with said shaft externally of said structure and slidable only when said gate is closed through said opening in said extension to a position in the path of opening movement of said gate to prevent such movement and rotation of said shaft, and guide and stop means carried by said shaft and cooperating with said bolt to maintain the same in operative position thereon, said bolt having a circular cross-section, said guide means comprising walls forming an arcuate groove extending lengthwise of said shaft and said stop means comprising an abutment at the end of said groove away from said extension and a circularly apertured stop member at the other end of said groove through which said circular bolt is slidable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,229,997 Manning June 12, 1917 1,623,303 Burnett Apr. 5, 1927 2,386,702 McBride Oct. 9, 1945 2,640,440 Dorey June 2, 1953 2,644,408 Dorey July 7, 1953 

